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(No Model.)

G. M. GUILD. STRINGING AND TUNING DEVICE FOR PIANOS. No. 396,740.

Patented Jan. 29, 1889.

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Wi h/85866 GEORGE MORSE GUILD, OF BOSTON,

PATENT OEEIcE.

1[ASSACHFSE'NS, ASSIGNOR TO ll. E.

GITLD, O F SAME PLAFE.

STRINGING AND TUNING DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,740, dated January 29, 1889.

Application filed May 22,}888.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that I, GEORGE MORSE GUILD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of 3 Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stringing and Tuning Devices for Pianos; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a top view of a. portion of the metallic string-frame, and also of a portion of the bridge, of a piano provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top view of a portion of the metallic string-frame and a portion of the bridge, showing the mode heretofore practiced of arranging the strings to cause them to bear on the bridge and on the string-frame. Fig. at is a side view of a portion of the bridge shown in Fig. 2). Fig. 5 is a side view, and

Fig. 6 a horizontal section, of one form of i straining-pin used by me to hold the string; and Fig. 7 is a side view, and Fig. 8 a front view, of the pin used to confine the strainingpin shown in Figs. 5 and (3. view, Fig. 10 an edge elevation, and Fig. 11 a side elevation, of the device used in connection with a screw to effect a bearing of the wires on the soundingboard bridge, and also to facilitate the final tuning of the piano. Fig. 12

is a view of the screw used with said device.

Heretofore it has been generally to provide the sounding-board bridge, and also the rib on which the strings bear next before being applied to the straining-pins, with a series of pins inclined, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and arranged out of a direct course between the hitch and straining pins for the purpose of causing the string when strained between the hitch-pin and the strain ing-pin to bear firmly on the bridge and plate. This manner of constructing the soundingboard bridge is very objectionable, as the strain exerted on the pins by the strings, which are of necessity arranged very near to Fig. 9 is a top 1 customary Serial No. 274,874. (No model.)

i each other, often causes the bridge to split, thus loosening the pins, which consequently throws the strings bearing against them out of tune, and also causes a serious rattling, which it is desirable to avoid.

In carrying out my invention l provide the bridge througl'unit its length with a groove, as shown at a. in Figs. 1 and 2, in which figures A denotes the string frame or plate; B, the somiding-board bridge; (I and D, the string-bearings on the said frame; E, the straining-pins; E, the hitch-pins, and G the strings.

I) Z) are ribs which border or form the sides of the groove in the bridge 13 and answer as bearings for the strings.

F F are bearers, each of which is formed with a bearing, C, in each of two sides to receive and support the bearer on the strings, and it also is provided with a hole, (Z, to receive a screw, (shown at 1T,) which passes down through the bearer and screws into the bridge, shown in Fig. 2, and forces the bearer down upon the string and the strings firmly upon the ribs 1 b of the bridge B, as represented. The strings (i, as will be seen, are arranged in a direct course lletwcen the lhitch and straining pins, and between the string-bearings and .l) are arranged another l series of the bearers F, which rest on the strings, and are caused to bear thereon by screws H, as shown, by which I am enabled to effect the line tuning of the strings after said strings have been strained, so as to take the stretch out of them, and have been brought nearly up to pitch by the straining-pins t The straining-pins E are supported in sockets l f in the plate A, and are provided with means for automatically wedging them therein to render them immovable under the strain of the strin Said pins E are provided with a l chamber, r as shown in Figs. 5 and U, in which 1 is arranged a pin, 7!, having secured to it a spring, 1?, the oltice of the spring 2i being to keep the pin 71 up to a bearing between the surface of the socket f and the face I of the chamber in the pin E. On revolving the pin E in the direction of arrow 1 in Fig. (3 the shoulder 7.:, bearing against the spring i, will I force the pin it around in the socket with the i pin E 5 but as soon as the pin E stops and commences to turn back in the direction of arrow 2 the pin h will immediately wedge between the surface of socket f and the face Z of the pin E and securely hold the same,thus rendering it immovable under the strain of the string.

I am aware that in the place of the inclined pins shown in Figs. 3 and 4 it has been proposed to groove the bridge and hold the strings thereon by a shouldered pin. This groove in the bridge is a concave in which the string rests, the string bearing upon the bridge the entire width of the concave.

In my device the string only rests upon the ribs Z) Z), and between these ribs the string does not touch the bridge. Instead of a shouldered pin, I use the bearers F, through which loosely passes the screw H. With a shouldered pin adjustment can only be made by making a half-turn, so as to bring the shou1- der from off of one string and aroundon top of the other. Besides, the strings have to be removed, the pin turned, and the strings replaced. \Vith my device I can get a fine adj ustment .without removing any part by simply drawing down the bearer by screwing the screw H farther down, and this adjustment is permitted by the shape of the groove in the bridge.

I am further aware that straining-pins have been locked in their sockets.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. The bearers F, having the bearings C -D, and the screws I-I, passing loosely through the bearers, in combination with the bridge B, having the groove and the strings G, as set forth.

2. The pin E, formed as shown, and with the pin it, provided with the spring 2', in combination with the socket J, said pin being arranged therein and to operate therewith, essentially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MORSE GUILD. Witnesses:

S. N. PIPER,

W. H. PRESTON. 

